Brown's Career With Raiders Ends

NFL - The Beat

August 5, 2004

Tim Brown, one of the top receivers in the NFL, is out after 16 seasons in Oakland.

The release of the 38-year-old Brown by the Raiders was hardly a shock.

Salary-cap constraints and the reality of reduced playing time persuaded owner Al Davis to part ways with the last member of the Los Angeles Raiders. Brown, who will be released today, holds most of the club's receiving records, and his 240 games in silver and black are the most in franchise history.

"It's emotionally difficult. It's a part of your life," Davis said. "Other than your family, this is your family. We've had many great players, but there are certain players you fall for. It's tough to lose him."

Brown was equally emotional.

"I have fought the battle as much as I possibly could and tried to restore the image as much as possible to the Raiders," Brown said Wednesday. "This won't be the end of Tim Brown. I'll surface somewhere else, probably."

He ranks second in NFL history with 14,734 yards receiving and third with 1,070 catches. His 99 touchdown receptions are tied with Don Hutson for fourth, and his 19,434 all-purpose yards are fifth.

DAWKINS OUT A WEEK

Philadelphia FS Brian Dawkins will miss the next week of training camp after injuring his knee. A magnetic resonance imaging exam revealed Dawkins, taking part in his first practice at camp after being out with groin spasms, had a bone bruise to his left knee and a hyperextension.

Clinton Hart, who made the team in training camp last year as a free agent and started nine games in Dawkins' place while the three-time Pro Bowler was out with a foot injury, figures to step in. But Hart was demoted to third team for struggling in practice.

GARCIA CALLS OUT WINSLOW

Cleveland QB Jeff Garcia suggested that top draft pick Kellen Winslow Jr. should end his holdout and join the team.

"It's important to get him here," the Browns' new quarterback said. "It's one of those things where you need to think about the team. You are going to get your riches no matter what, but you need to think about the team.

"This is a team game."

Meanwhile, the Browns and agent Kevin Poston are as much as $15 million apart.

RATTAY'S ARM IN PAIN

San Francisco 49ers QB Tim Rattay will be held out of practice until next week because of an inflamed right forearm.

Rattay, who missed his second consecutive day of practice, isn't expected to return to the field until next Monday. Rattay has swelling in that area of his throwing arm, but an MRI exam revealed no ligament or soft-tissue damage. The team will rest him the rest of this week as a precaution.

Rattay said the injury is improving and he could practice this week.

BILLS' WILLIAMS RETURNS

Buffalo OT Mike Williams, fined by the team this week for missing a training-camp session, returned to practice -- with the second team.